Kitchener-based EMAGIN represents Canada at Imagine H20’s Water Gala in San Francisco

EMAGIN, a Kitchener-based startup that leverages artificial intelligence to help water utilities proactively manage their operations, has been selected as one of the top 12 startups to participate in a California-based accelerator program.

The accelerator, Imagine H20, provides entrepreneurs developing data-driven solutions to problems in the water sector with access to cash awards, mentorship, industry exposure and introductions to customers and investors.

EMAGIN was selected from among 180 companies across 18 countries that applied to Imagine H20’s program. The startup will present its technology at Imagine H20’s annual Water Gala and Water Environment Federation Innovation Conference in San Francisco in March 2017, where Imagine H20 will announce its program’s overall winner.

“This is an impressive group of companies doing important work in their chosen area,” said Paul Gagliardo, the innovation director at American Water and a member of the program’s judging panel. “Scaling their business through Imagine H2O’s program will be a unique opportunity to bring their innovations to market.”

Imagine H20’s judging panel is made up from leaders from IBM, True North Venture Partners, DC Water, and XP Water Partners.

Amira Zubairi is a staff writer at BetaKit. As a fourth-year journalism student who has written primarily about entrepreneurship, Amira has developed a growing interest in Canadian startup, business, and tech news. In her free time, Amira enjoys reading, baking and watching legal shows.